"From Knowledge to Action: Environmental Education as a Foundation for Transformative Leaders" by Mafalda Sarmento
Environmental education gained global momentum in the 1960s in response to the prevailing development models of the time. Today, 26 January, is World Environmental Education Day, which has its roots in the International Conference on Environmental Education held in Belgrade in 1975, which was an important milestone in the global recognition of environmental education. The conference resulted in the "Belgrade Charter", a document that established fundamental goals for environmental education around the world, and the celebration of this day has the central aim of raising awareness about the importance of environmental education and promoting actions that contribute to the protection of the environment.
Environmental education is fundamental to building a sustainable future and has significant positive impacts on society and the environment. Firstly, it raises awareness of critical environmental issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss, encouraging a greater sense of responsibility and proactive action. In addition, it facilitates the development of practical and theoretical competences in sustainability, preparing students to implement innovative and sustainable solutions in a variety of contexts.
A notable impact of Environmental Education is its influence on behaviour change. By providing knowledge and tools, Environmental Education empowers people to make more sustainable choices in their daily lives, which, on a large scale, can lead to a significant reduction in the ecological footprint.
In the educational sphere, integrating Environmental Education into the school and university curriculum prepares future professionals to consider environmental impacts in their areas of activity, promoting a more holistic and sustainable approach in business and science.
I believe that Environmental Education contributes to the formation of a new generation of leaders and decision-makers who are informed about environmental issues. These leaders will be better prepared to integrate environmental considerations into public policies, business strategies and social practices, leading the transition to a more sustainable society. Environmental education is therefore a fundamental pillar for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and for guaranteeing the health and well-being of future generations.
Generations Z and Y, who have had and have greater access to environmental education, have seen notable changes in relation to the environment. They tend to show greater involvement, responsibility and participation in environmental issues, which often translates into practical actions such as sustainable consumption choices, participation in environmental movements and defence of green policies. They become generations prepared for careers in sustainability-related fields.
These generations are often seen as catalysts for change, driving innovation and pushing for sustainable solutions at personal, community and political levels.
Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP) demonstrates a strong commitment to environmental education, integrating it deeply into its educational and strategic plan since 2021/2022. This commitment is reflected in the introduction of the SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) Chairs in the academic curriculum, in alignment with the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
They focus on specific SDGs such as Climate Action (SDG 13), Peace, Justice and Effective Institutions (SDG 16), Protecting Marine Life (SDG 14), and more recently Quality Education (SDG 4). This initiative inserts specific subjects on SDGs into the curriculum, promoting awareness of these global challenges. The optional subjects are open to all undergraduate students, with online classes in Portuguese and English, and address topics relevant to each SDG. This initiative was recently recognised as an exemplary practice by the UN.
Isabel Capeloa Gil, UCP's President, has emphasised several times that sustainability is a structural assumption in the university's entire development project, not just an isolated objective. "The idea of the 'SDG Chairs' arose as part of the development of the University's Strategic Development Plan (PDE), one of the central ideas of which is to prepare the University for what are the great challenges of sustainable development. Not only the SDGs, but also articulating them with the Laudato Si' Goals (OLS), in the course of Pope Francis' encyclical."
In 2024, in addition to the SDG chairs, UCP will promote various practical actions, such as the 'Mural do Digital' and '2tonnes' workshops, focused on the environmental challenges of digital technology and the climate transition, respectively. Actions to promote sustainable mobility, events and challenges will also be implemented, so that through a holistic and integrated approach, we can align education with global and sustainable responsibilities, preparing students to be conscious leaders in an ever-changing world.